Tv interface control system and method with automatic search

ABSTRACT

An automatic search system and method is disclosed which automatically displays a search menu on a TV in response to opening a remote control having an internal concealed keyboard. Since a text entry keyboard is known to be in use a streamlined search menu may be displayed without an on screen keyboard. A separate on screen keyboard search menu may be activated in a different mode by using the remote in a closed configuration.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

The present application is a divisional application of application Ser.No. 12/077,891 filed Mar. 21, 2008, which claims priority to provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/919,683 filed Mar. 23, 2007, to provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/921,717 filed Apr. 4, 2007, and to provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/927,762 filed May 4, 2007, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to TV interfaces and control systems andmethods for controlling entertainment systems employing a TV as adisplay device.

2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Information

Modern TV based entertainment systems have the ability to access a largevariety of content. Such content ranges from large numbers of digital TVchannels, movies available through online pay per view or othersubscription access services via cable or satellite, other onlineavailable media, as well as various locally stored media such as audio,pictures and video, and internet access. Accessing such contentefficiently is impossible without employing a search feature of sometype. At the same time control of a TV based system is typically via ahandheld remote control. The majority of remote controls employ anUp-Down-Left-Right (UDLR) set of control buttons to navigate through thevarious menus to control the entertainment system. Employing this typeof menu control for searching typically involves going through a seriesof menu prompts with the UDLR control buttons to initiate a searchfollowed by text entry for the search again using the UDLR buttons. Thistext entry involves an on screen alpha numeric listing which is scrolledthrough via the UDLR control buttons to select text and numbers oneletter or number at a time. A typical search menu layout of this type isshown in FIG. 1.

On screen alpha numeric listings for search menus generally fall intotwo types, one a keyboard style listing of the alphabet and numbers suchas shown in FIG. 1 and the other a keypad type layout similar to atelephone keypad which uses a texting type input format. In either casethe input of text for searching is extremely slow requiring repeatedactivation of the UDLR control buttons. This limitation on text entryfrom a remote control has limited the desirability of search functionsand hampered user acceptance and use of digital media systems and thelarge amounts of media content which are available.

Accordingly a need exists for an easier way to search media contentusing a handheld remote control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides a method forautomatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment. The methodcomprises detecting opening of a remote control having a concealed textentry keyboard and displaying a search menu on the TV screen in responseto said detecting.

In a preferred embodiment of the method displaying a search menu on theTV screen may comprise selecting one search menu from a plurality ofsearch menus based on the TV viewing mode when said detecting occurs anddisplaying said selected search menu. The plurality of search menus mayinclude a TV guide search menu and a video on demand search menu and theviewing modes may comprise viewing a TV show and viewing an on demandmovie, respectively. The plurality of search menus may also include avideo search menu, and a picture search menu and the viewing modes maycomprise viewing a video, and viewing pictures, respectively. The remotecontrol may preferably comprise a folding remote with a QWERTY keyboardon the inner surfaces of the folding remote and the detecting comprisesdetecting opening of the folding keyboard. The method may furthercomprise detecting closing of the remote and returning to the priorviewing mode if a search result has not been selected. The method mayfurther comprise toggling through different search menus in response toactivation of a search mode key in said text entry keyboard. Forexample, the search mode key may toggle between a plurality of differentmedia groups. The same or a different search mode key may also togglebetween different search fields including title and actor search fields.The search menu may be displayed in a partial screen along with theprogram being viewed.

In another aspect the present invention provides a method for initiatinga search mode in a TV environment, comprising initiating a search modein a first manner using first selection inputs on a top outside portionof a remote control using text entry employing said first selectioninputs and initiating a search mode in a second manner using text entrykeys on an inner keyboard of the remote, wherein the first and secondsearch modes employ different first and second search menus.

In a preferred embodiment of the method initiating a search mode in afirst manner comprises using a series of on screen menu selectionsemploying the first selection inputs to display a first search menu andinitiating a search mode in a second manner comprises detecting openingof the remote control to reveal the text entry keyboard, and displayinga search menu on the TV screen in response to the detecting. The firstsearch menu may include an on screen keyboard and the second search menudoes not include an on screen keyboard since text entry is availablefrom the keyboard. The first search menu may be displayed full screendue to the on screen keyboard and the second search menu is displayed ina partial screen along with the program being viewed. The firstselection inputs may comprise up, down, left, right buttons.

In another aspect the present invention provides a method forautomatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment, comprisingdetecting opening of a remote control having a concealed text entrykeyboard and selecting one of a plurality of different search menusbased on the prior search patterns of the user or a user setting. Themethod further comprises displaying the selected search menu on the TVscreen in response to the detecting and entering text into the searchmenu in response to text entry from the keyboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the method the plurality of search menusare at different levels and the selecting displays a higher or lowerlevel menu based on prior search patterns. In particular, a higher levelmenu preferably searches plural media groups.

In another aspect the present invention provides an entertainment systemadapted for use with a TV. The system comprises a media device adaptedto be coupled to the TV and control display of media including TV showsand a remote control having an open and closed configuration with firstinputs accessible in the closed configuration and second inputsincluding text entry keys accessible in the open configuration. Theremote control includes one or more transmitters for transmittingcontrols signals to the media device including a signal indicatingopening of the remote. The media device includes control programming toinitiate display of a search menu automatically in response to receivingthe control signal indicating opening of the remote and to receive textentry for the search transmitted from the remote from activation of saidtext entry keys.

Further aspects of the invention will be appreciated from the followingdetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1 a search menu with an on screen keyboard layout is shown.

In FIG. 2 a streamlined search menu in accordance with the invention isillustrated.

In FIG. 3 an interface control method accordance with the invention isillustrated.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 search menus are illustrated for an embodiment of theinvention where several different searchable media groups are available.

In FIG. 6 the interface control flow is illustrated in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 7 the interface control flow is illustrated in accordance withan alternate embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 8 an improved entertainment system employing the automaticsearch features in accordance with the present invention is illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,156 ('156 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,242 ('242patent) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In theabove noted '156 and '242 patents the above noted problems wereaddressed by a folding remote control system and method with a keyboardconfigured on the inner surfaces of the folding remote. This system andmethod allows easy text entry when desired by opening the folding remoteand using the keyboard within the remote. The remote also hasconventional UDLR buttons on the outside of the remote allowing controlof menus in a conventional manner. The present invention provides a TVinterface and control method adapted for simple and quick searchingwhich may preferably employ such a remote with keyboard.

Referring to FIG. 2 a streamlined search menu is illustrated. This menuis adapted for use with keyboard text entry rather than UDLR entry andis much simpler than the search menu of FIG. 1. This menu illustrates asearch adapted for example for a cable TV or satellite TV applicationand may allow for easy searching for a movie in an on demand setting ora TV program or channel from an extensive TV guide listing. The menutherefore simply employs a text box and a search field selection menufor title, actor or full text search. For channel or TV programsearching additional or different search field options may be employed.

Referring to FIG. 3 the interface control method is illustrated. Duringoperation with the remote closed and using UDLR controls theconventional menu navigation may be employed and if desired searches maybe initiated using the menu of FIG. 1 and UDLR text entry. When theremote is opened to expose the internal text entry keyboard this isdetected at 100. More specifically, as described in the above notedpatents the remote has a sensor which detects opening of the remotewhich is used to disable the outside buttons. For example as describedin the noted patents the switch may be coupled to a latch or to a hinge.At 110 this remote opening detection is used to transmit a signal usingthe remote control transmitter (either IR or RF) to the entertainmentcontrol device 218 or TV 222 (FIG. 8) to control the displayedinterface. At 120 in response to this signal the device 218, 222automatically displays the streamlined search menu such as in FIG. 2.The streamlined search menu may be superimposed on the menu or programbeing viewed when the signal is received in a partial screen windowwhich menu may be easily accommodated in a partial screen due to thesimple nature of the search menu and lack of need for the text of themenu of FIG. 1. Alternatively the streamlined search menu may bedisplayed full screen displacing the menu or program being viewed on thescreen of TV 222. In either case the user is able to immediately entertext to initiate searching, changing the search option field ifnecessary. The search results may be displayed immediately within thesearch menu window once text is entered or alternatively the full searchtext may be entered before initiating the search (e.g., by enter or OKon the keyboard) and the search results displayed in a separate window.It will readily be appreciated that this automatic search control isdramatically simpler and faster than conventional approaches using aremote.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6 search menus and interface control flow areillustrated for an application where several different searchable mediagroups are available. For example, the media control device 218 mayaccess locally stored (including locally networked storage) pictures,music and video files in a typical digital multi-media entertainmentsystem, as well as TV channels/programs and on demand movie content asdescribed above. A sample picture search menu is shown in FIG. 4, withsimilar menus for music and video. Also, depending on the device 218internet search capability may also be provided. In FIG. 5 a higherlevel search menu is shown while in FIG. 6 the control flow isillustrated. As in the example of FIG. 3 above the control flow proceedsat 100 and 110 to detect keyboard text entry and transmit a signal toautomatically initiate search menu display. Since multiple searchoptions are available the flow proceeds at 130 to compare the likelysearch menu from the displayed content and at 140 to decide if amatching menu is found. If for example the display is already inpictures the menu of FIG. 4 is selected at 140 and displayed at 150.Similarly for video or music or other searchable media group (orinternet). If a different search field and menu is desired than the oneautomatically selected and displayed the selected menu (such as theexample menu of FIG. 4) includes a change search selection which takesthe displayed menu to a higher level as in FIG. 5 to allow selection ofthe media group to search. Alternatively, the change search selectionmay scroll (or toggle) through successive search fields/media groups.Also, instead of the manual change search selection being on screen, adedicated change search button may be provided on the keyboard tofurther speed search selection and reduce on screen menu navigation.Also separate such search mode buttons for toggling through media groups(e.g., TV guide, VOD, pictures, on line video, music, etc.) and togglingthrough search fields (e.g., actor, title, full text, show category,etc.) may be provided on the keyboard.

These automatic menu selection steps 130, 140, 150 (along with themanual search change selection) may incorporate a memory and learningfunction. For example, an automatic search menu selected at 130-150 fromlive TV program viewing may typically go to a TV search menu as in FIG.2. However, if this automatic selection is repeatedly altered via amanual search change to an internet search, then an internet search menuwill become the default automatic search menu displayed. This learningfeature may be user settable as to the number of changes required beforealtering the default automatic menu selection and also may be reset tothe original default by the user. Similarly, the field to be searchedmay be learned, for example, a default title search menu may change to adefault actor or category search menu. If at 140 no matching menu isfound the automatic search menu flow proceeds at 160 to display a higherlevel search field menu with available searchable media groups (andinternet if accessible by the device) as shown in FIG. 5 and allowdisplay of a user selected search menu at 170. (Or alternatively at 170text entry directly in the menu of FIG. 5 may be made, followed bysearch of the selected media group in a default category, such as“title”, when the search field is highlighted and selected—followed bydisplay of the appropriate search menu and search results). For example,the interface control may follow this flow and may jump directly to thatof FIG. 5 when a media group is not being displayed or when theautomatic search mode is repeatedly changed manually in previousautomatic selections but in an inconsistent manner.

Alternatively the automatic search initiated at 100, 110 may go directlyto a higher level menu as shown in FIG. 5. This is shown in FIG. 7 at180 and the user then selects the search mode from the menu which isthen displayed at 190. This flow may be a user settable option bypassingthe full automatic search menu selection of FIG. 6 if desired.

Referring to FIG. 8 an improved entertainment system employing theautomatic search features in accordance with the present invention isillustrated. As shown, the entertainment system includes a TV monitor222 which is coupled to a data processing device 218 of the type whichreceives text input control signals for searching as described above andcontrols the interface displayed on the TV. Also, additional devices orinputs may be provided to the entertainment system, e.g., a DVR 272,wired or wireless networked device coupled to a PC or other media serverand other video and data inputs indicated generally by inputs 216 and265 in FIG. 8. Also shown is remote 10, illustrated in both the first(open) and second (closed) configurations as described above. Remote 10provides typical TV type control signals to the entertainment system inthe second (closed) position, such as volume up/down and power, UDLRcontrols, etc., and text input control signals in the first (open)position as described above, and detects opening and transmits the textinput activation signal as described at 100, 110 above. Also in the openposition the keys may preferably include a first search mode key fortoggling through media groups and/or a second search mode key fortoggling through search fields and/or a text mode key as described inthe in '717 application incorporated herein by reference.

Although the above automatic search features preferably employ a device218 such as a set top box, networked PC or other media control deviceadapted for the search and text entry described, in some cases the useof older devices or devices without dedicated process flow as above maybe used by transmitting commands, such as macros of plural rapidcommands to emulate the desired functions on an existing device. Forexample, a macro of commands may be transmitted upon detecting openingof the remote which takes the display to a search menu normally accessedvia a series of menu selections. Also a device adapted for text entryvia an on screen or triple tap type input may be used to generate textfrom the remote QWERTY keyboard by emulating the text entry commandswith a series of commands triggered by activation of each key on thekeyboard.

Although the interface control described above is preferably employedwith the folding remote illustrated in FIG. 8 and described in the abovepatents incorporated by reference and responsive to opening the remote,the keyboard text entry detection at 100 above and ensuing control flowmay also be initiated by another means such as detection of a text keybeing pressed in the keyboard or activation of a text search button onthe keyboard. In such alternate embodiments the keyboard may beconfigured differently than the preferred folding design or may even beseparate from the remote.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing ismerely an illustration of the present invention in currently preferredimplementations. A wide variety modifications to the illustratedembodiments are possible while remaining within the scope of the presentconvention. Therefore, the above description should not be viewed aslimiting but merely exemplary in nature.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for automatically initiating a searchmode in a TV environment, comprising: detecting opening of a remotecontrol having a concealed text entry keyboard; and displaying a searchmenu on the TV screen in response to said detecting.
 2. A method forautomatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out inclaim 1, wherein said displaying a search menu on the TV screencomprises selecting one search menu from a plurality of search menusbased on the TV viewing mode when said detecting occurs and displayingsaid selected search menu.
 3. A method for automatically initiating asearch mode in a TV environment as set out in claim 2, wherein saidplurality of search menus include a TV guide search menu and a video ondemand search menu and wherein said viewing modes comprise viewing a TVshow and viewing an on demand movie, respectively.
 4. A method forautomatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out inclaim 2, wherein said plurality of search menus include a video searchmenu, and a picture search menu and wherein said viewing modes compriseviewing a video, and viewing pictures, respectively.
 5. A method forautomatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out inclaim 1, wherein said remote control comprises a folding remote with aQWERTY keyboard on the inner surfaces of the folding remote and whereinsaid detecting comprises detecting opening of the folding keyboard.
 6. Amethod for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment asset out in claim 1, further comprising detecting closing of the remoteand returning to the prior viewing mode if a search result has not beenselected.
 7. A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TVenvironment as set out in claim 1, further comprising toggling throughdifferent search menus in response to activation of a search mode key insaid text entry keyboard.
 8. A method for automatically initiating asearch mode in a TV environment as set out in claim 7, wherein saidsearch mode key toggles between a plurality of different media groups.9. A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TVenvironment as set out in claim 7, wherein said search mode key togglesbetween different search fields including title and actor search fields.10. A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TVenvironment as set out in claim 1, wherein said search menu is displayedin a partial screen along with the program being viewed.
 11. A methodfor automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment,comprising: detecting opening of a remote control having a concealedtext entry keyboard; selecting one of a plurality of different searchmenus based on the prior search patterns of the user or a user setting;displaying the selected search menu on the TV screen in response to saiddetecting; and entering text into the search menu in response to textentry from the keyboard.
 12. A method for automatically initiating asearch mode in a TV environment as set out in claim 17, wherein theplurality of search menus are at different levels and said selectingdisplays a higher or lower level menu based on prior search patterns.13. A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TVenvironment as set out in claim 18, wherein a higher level menu searchesplural media groups.
 14. An entertainment system adapted for use with aTV, comprising: a media device adapted to be coupled to the TV andcontrol display of media including TV shows; and a remote control havingan open and closed configuration with first inputs accessible in theclosed configuration and second inputs including text entry keysaccessible in the open configuration, the remote including one or moretransmitters for transmitting controls signals to said media deviceincluding a signal indicating opening of the remote; the media deviceincluding control programming to initiate display of a search menuautomatically in response to receiving said control signal indicatingopening of said remote and to receive text entry for the searchtransmitted from said remote from activation of said text entry keys.